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Baltimore: The Art and Soul of America

Art and culture come together in a celebration of American creativity. Discover two of the East Coast's finest free art museums in a city where artistry and American stories are found around every corner.

For more than 100 years, the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) has shared its internationally renowned collection of 19th-century, modern and contemporary art with an appreciative public. Admission is free.

In recent years, the museum completed a $28 million renovation to accentuate its art while drawing attention to the aesthetics of the environment. The BMA’s historic Merrick Entrance, designed by famed architect John Russell Pope, was reopened after being closed to visitors for almost 30 years. Plus, the Dorothy McIlvain Scott American Wing was renovated to offer a fresh presentation of the BMA’s outstanding collection of American paintings, sculpture and decorative arts. The East Wing Lobby and Zamoiski Entrance were also dramatically redesigned. The museum’s multi-year renovation project concluded in 2015 with the reinstallation of the African and Asian art collections and the opening of a new center for learning and creativity.

A few miles away, The Walters Art Museum has been showcasing art for more than 80 years and is also free to the public. Its internationally renowned collection spans the ages, from ancient Egypt to 19th-century masterpieces from America and Europe. You can see everything from Greek sculptures to Art Nouveau jewelry.